Pick a Day

Music History Events: Innovations

May 24, 1930 After taking off from Croydon, London, on May 5, the British aviator Amy Johnson lands in Darwin, Australia, inspiring the songs "Amy" (by Horatio Nicholls) and "Flying Sorcery" (by Al Stewart).

October 6, 1927 The first talking picture is released: The Jazz Singer, a musical starring Al Jolson. Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies" is one of the first songs heard by talkie audiences.

February 10, 1927 "Shepherd Of The Hills" becomes the first song to be performed on two Continents immediately after being written. The song was read down the phone at 5pm London time, and performed at the Alhambra at 8:40pm by Jack Hylton and his band. It was performed later that same night in New York.